NIGEL Farage yesterday set the UK Independence Party the ambitious target of holding the balance of power at Westminster.

At his party’s annual conference in London, the Ukip leader claimed support was growing at such a rate that he had serious hopes of getting a string of MPs elected at the next general election due in 2015.

He said that holding the balance of power in a hung Commons was the best way to guarantee an in-or-out referendum on the EU.

Holding the balance of power is the best way to guarantee an in-or-out referendum on the EU

Nigel Farage

“I promise you when the next general election comes Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems will promise a referendum,” said Mr Farage, seen below after his speech yesterday.

“The only way you will get a referendum is to make sure there are enough Ukip MPs in Westminster in 2015 holding the balance of power. There will be a referendum then.”